UPDATE 1-U.S. Senate breaks from Trump with Syria troop vote

The Republican-led U.S. Senate
backed largely symbolic legislation on Monday that broke with
President Donald Trump by opposing plans for any abrupt
withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 70-26 in favor of a non-binding amendment,
drafted by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, saying it was the
sense of the Senate that Islamist militant groups in both
countries still pose a "serious threat" to the United States.

The amendment acknowledged progress against Islamic State
and al Qaeda in Syria and Afghanistan but warned that "a
precipitous withdrawal" could destabilize the region and create
a vacuum that could be filled by Iran or Russia. It called on the Trump administration to certify conditions
had been met for the groups' "enduring defeat" before any
significant withdrawal from Syria or Afghanistan.

Before the vote, McConnell said he introduced the bill so
the Senate could "speak clearly and directly about the
importance of the" missions in Afghanistan and Syria. Passage was expected, after the Senate voted to advance it
in a procedural vote last week. After concerns from
some Democrats, the Senate approved a change to the bill making
it clear the amendment was not intended to be a declaration of
war or authorization to use military force.

The vote added the amendment to a broader Middle East
security bill making its way through Congress. The Senate voted
72-24 to advance the broader bill in a procedural vote on Monday
after the amendment vote. To become law, however, the bill would need to pass the
Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, where it is
unlikely to move without significant changes because of concerns
about a provision addressing the "Boycott, Divest and Sanction"
movement concerned with Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

The votes marked the second time in two months that the
Senate supported a measure contradicting Trump's foreign policy,
although legislation to change his policies has yet to become
law. Several of Trump's fellow Republicans strongly disagreed
with his plans to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria on the
grounds that militants no longer pose a threat.

Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, disputed before Monday's vote that
the amendment rebuked or insulted Trump. "As I read it, it
recognizes ... his effort for us to examine exactly what we are
doing in these places," Risch said.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Peter Cooney)